Harker, Mary A 1840-1927

HARKER, KERLIN, FELT

Posted By: Geo Clinton (email)
Date: 4/27/2016 at 20:36:35

June 22, 1927 - Jefferson Bee - Mrs. Mary A. Harker, for many years a resident of Greene county, and wife of one of our pioneers, James Harker, died at her home in Storm Lake last week. A dispatch to the Des Moines Register has the following to say:

"The funeral of Mrs. Mary Harker will be held from her residence Friday morning, services to be conducted by Mrs. M.K. Whelan, leader of the First Church of Christ of Estherville, Iowa.

"Mrs. Harker was 87 years old and a native of England. She came America in 1843. She received her education in Wisconsin and with her husband, James J. Harker, came Jefferson, Iowa, in 1867 where they lived till 1874, when they came Storm Lake.

"They received a deed to their present home on Lake avenue in 1878. The commodious brick residence early days was referred to as the Harker mansion and this has been her home continuously. Her husband was president of the original Storm Lake bank and later he organized the First National bank of Storm Lake.

They were the parents of nine children and during the civil war gave a home to four other children Mrs. Harker is survived by four children, Mrs. George B. Kerlin, Miss Mae Harker at home, Mrs. Zeph Charles Felt of Denver and Jay E.A. Merchant of Estherville.

"Mrs. Barker's death recalls many stories of early Iowa history as she had several interesting experiences with the Indians while living in Jefferson. Her husband was one of the strong pioneer characters who helped build up Storm Lake in the seventies."